“To the thousands at Ende Gelände members who risk their own future to safeguard our common future: you are heroes. When your actions keep some of the most harmful fossil fuels in the ground, you don’t just have a social licence, you also have a scientific licence. Peaceful direct action to interrupt lignite mining is in line with findings that conclude that coal needs to stay in its hole to mitigate global warming. You’re paying us all a great service and it’s us that should pay your court costs for trying to end lignite extraction at Gelande.”